Friend FROM THE Future

In April 2016, an extended preview featuring the Doctor and his new companion Bill gave us our first taste of the next series. In November we spoke to the director and costume designer behind this intriguing mini−episode.

INTERVIEW BY ALISTAIR McGOWN

Peter Capaldi (as the Doctor) and Pearl Mackie (as Bill), pictured during the making of Friend from the Future.

Football fans weren’t the only people glued to BBC One’s live coverage of the FA Cup semi−final between Everton and Manchester United on Saturday 23 April. Another group of enthusiasts was keenly anticipating a very different form of entertainment at half time.

At around 6.10 pm, presenter Gary Lineker helped introduce the latest Doctor Who recruit. “And there’s something else coming up on BBC One in the not too distant future,” he said. “The Doctor has a new companion≤”

Thus followed the frenetic two−minute mini−episode Friend from the Future. Haring down futuristic metal corridors, pursued by a Dalek, was Peter Capaldi’s Doctor and an afro−haired companion. The Doctor had to explain to her the background of the Daleks, before being interrupted by a phone message.

“We need to get back,” he tells his new friend.

“Back where?” the girl asks.

“To the future. 2017 needs us!”

So it was that Pearl Mackie was seen playing new companion Bill for the first time. We’ve clearly come a long way since the days when it was enough to introduce a new companion or Doctor with a mere photocall.

About Doctor Who Magazine

The bumper 100-page Christmas 2016 issue of Doctor Who Magazine contains a wealth of seasonal goodies including: a huge preview of the 2016 Christmas Special, The Return of Doctor Mysterio, with contributions from writer Steven Moffat and director Ed Balazgette; exclusive interviews with Matt Lucas, who plays new companion Nardole, and guest-star Justin Chatwin; a brand-new Christmas comic strip adventure for the Doctor and Jess: "Be Forgot"; a feature which reveals the Doctor's amazing superhero-like abilities!; The Fact of Fiction looks in-depth at 2006’s Christmas Special The Runaway Bride, with new insights from writer Russell T Davies; a look back at all the things that have happened in the universe of Doctor Who in 2016; The Time Team watch The Sarah Jane Adventures: Death of the Doctor and 2010's A Christmas Carol; a look at how the Doctor Who Pinball Table has been recreated for a new generation; the Watcher's fiendishly festive Christmas quiz; plus previews, reviews, official news and much more!